Cotton sample selecting device



s. E. s us COTTON SAMPLE SELECTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Eli EAUE lufi'y 18, 1939 a E GAUS 2,166,811

cowon 5mm SELECTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1959 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COTTON SAMPLE SELECTING DEVICE cessors in office Application January 17, 1939, Serial No. 251,365

9 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30,

This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 1928, and theinvention herein described and claimed, if patented, may be manufactured and 5 used'by or forthe Government-of the United States of America, for governmental purposes without'the' payment to me of any royalty there- My invention relates to a new and useful device in combination with cotton gins or condensers having means for producing a continuous ribbon-like separation of the lint cotton bat discharged from the condenser.

One of the objects of this invention is to sever and deposit selected quantities of one of the ribhon-like bats issuing from the condenser, to obtain an average representative sample of each bale of cotton after it is ginned and before the same is baled;

Another object of this invention is to provide means for the separation and collection of integral portions of the lint cotton bat without disturbing the felted arrangement of the cotton fibers comprising the separated portion of the lint cotton bat.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for disposing of the portions of the lint cotton bat not selected for the representative sample.

A still further object of this invention is to obtain a sample from the lint cotton initially composing the completed bale.

The following description, considered together with the accompanying drawings, will fully disclose this invention, its constructions, arrangements, and operations of parts, and further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating an embodiment of my invention in combination with a cotton condenser.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end view'of my invention illustrating the mechanism in operative position for accumulating a selected portion of a representative sample of the lint cotton.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end view of my invention illustrating the mechanism in operative position for discharging the unselected portion of the lint cotton into the cotton bale press-box.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the lint cotton separator mechanism similar to Figure 2, looking at the opposite side of the device.

Referring with more particularity to the drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts, the numeral I designates suitable frame work of a cotton condenser which supports the condenser drum 2 that condenses, divides, and compresses the lint cotton into bat form after being ginned and before being passed into the press-box for baling. The numeral 3 designates an imperforate band encircling the condenser drum 2 suitable for the purpose of longitudinally dividing the lint cotton bat delivered by the condenser drum 2. Extending outwardly from one side of the condenser drum 2 is a lint flue 4, leading from the condenser, while the other side is provided with lint slides 5 and 6. Lint slide 5 conveys that portion of the divided compressed lint cotton bat 5A not operated upon by the cotton sample selecting device, from the cotton condenser into the cotton bale press-box I. Lint slide 6 conveys that portion of the divided compressed lint cotton bat 5A which is operated upon by the sample selecting device. At the upper end of the condenser and adjacent to the con denser drum 2, is the usual compress roller 8, beneath which the cotton on the condenser drum 2 is passed and pressed into compact form before passing down the lint slides 5 and 6.

My improved sample selecting device, as illustrated in Figure 1, is supported by projecting arms 9, 9 secured to the framework i of the condenser. Lint slide 6, having an inclined upper portion, a curved center portion and a substantially vertical lower portion, is supported by upright frame members I0, projecting arms 9, 9 and cross members H, H and I2, I2 secured to the framework 1 Beneath the lint slide 6 a sample box 13 is located for the collection of the accumulated lint cotton forming the representative sample of the gin bale. Shaft H3 is mounted parallel to the surface of lint slide 6 for rotation in suitable bearing structures supported by the projecting arms 9, 9, and is driven by the belt 15 which passes over pulley l6 fixed to said shaft l4 and over the driver pulley ll fixed to the condenser drum shaft l8. Arms l9 and 20 are pivoted at their lower ends to shaft l4, and they are connected by transverse bars 2| and 22. A plate 23, attached to the transverse bars 2| and 22, conveys the lint cotton delivered from the doifer roller 2.4 to the chute 25 for deposition in the bale press-box l. The doifer roller 24, provided about its circumference with resilient flexible flaps26 longitudinally secured in spaced re- 1ation,'has its shaft 21 rotatably mounted be tween the upper ends of the arms l9 and 2B. Said roller 24 is continuously driven, in a counterclockwise direction (Figures 2, 3, and 4) by belt 28 which passes over a pulley 29 fixed to shaft 21 and over the driver pulley 3E1 fixed to shaft l4. The arms I9 and 20 can be swung about shaft l4 in a counter-clockwise direction (Figures 2, 3, and 4) by means of lever 3| attached to the arm 26, thus carrying the roller 24 away from the lint slide 6, as viewed in Figures 2 and 3. An abutment, such as eccentric stud 32 secured on one of the arms 9, 9 in line with arm 20 permits regulation of the amount of pressure exerted by doffer roller 24 when in cooperative relation with lint slide 6.

An extending heavy plate 33, provided with a corrugated resilient lip 34 at its outer end, is mounted below the roller 24 and is adapted to contact the slide 6 in advance of said roller, operating in conjunction with the roller and the lint slide 6 to transversely rend a portion of the bat that might be caught therebetween. The plate 33 is carried by rod 35 pivoted between bars 37 and 38 which are attached, respectively, to the arms l9 and 26. An adjustable abutment, such as set screw 39 resting on bar 37 (Figure 5) mounted on a lug extension 35 of plate 33 permits regulation of the thrust of the lip 34 against the lint slide 6. The lip 34, while limited in a downward movement by the set screw 39, is free to move upward a short distance when forced against the lint slide 6; the unbalanced weight of the plate 33 being depended upon to hold the cotton bat between the lint slide 6 and the lip 34.

A cylindrical bar 43 is carried at the lower end of a plate 49, or any other suitable means, suspended from trunnions 4i and 42, which trunnions are pivoted on extensions of the cross members l2, E2. The member 43 is positioned so that its path of movement intersects an arc of the path of relative movement between the dofier roller 24 and the slide 6.

The operation of this invention is as follows:

The lint cotton bat delivered from the condenser drum 2 is preferably divided longitudinally into two parts; a wide portion 5A which is continuously conveyed by lint slide 5 into the cotton bale press-box I and a narrower ribbonlike portion GA which is conveyed by lint slide 6 into position to be operated upon by my cotton sample selecting device.

When the doffer roller 24, together with the plate 33, are in their extreme positions away from the lint slide 6 (Figure 3) the ribbon-like lint cotton bat passes from the condenser drum 2 on the lint slide 6 into the sample box I3. When a sufiicient quantity of the lint cotton bat has been accumulated in the sample box I3, the lever 3| is actuated to swing the doffer roller 24 and plate 33 toward the lint slide 6 (Figure 4). At the end of this movement the corrugated resilient lip 34 forcibly contacts and holds the cotton bat on lint slide 6 in advance of the flaps 26 of doif-er roller 24 preventing upward movement by rotating doffer roller 24 of that portion of the bat below the lip 34. Since this roller 24 is rotating against the cotton bat in a direction away from the lip 34, a transverse severance of the cotton bat results. When this severance takes place, the rotating flaps 26 pass the upper conterminous severed end of the cotton bat over the doffer roller 24 onto the plate 23 and the chute 25 for conveyance of the oncoming cotton bat, being delivered by the condenser drum 2 (Figure 5), to the bale press-box I (Figure 4). The device is operated in this position (Figure 4) until it is desired to remove another portion of the QOU Q bat as a component part of the desired representative sample. To initiate this phase of the sampling process the lever 3| is again actuated to swing the doffer roller 24 with the plate 33 in a direction away from the lint slide 6. The oncoming cotton bat passing over the dofier roller 24 is elevated from the lint slide 6 with the doifer roller 24 thus coming into contact with the cylindrical bar 43. When the doifer roller 24 passes beneath the cylindrical bar 43, said bar is rotated with the plate about its pivot. The bar 43 then swings back towards its normal vertical position exerting pressure on the sagging portion of the cotton bat suspended between the doffer roller 24 and the lint slide 6. This presrrc. i addition to the continuous operation of roller 24 on the cotton bat, is sufficient to cause a transverse separation of the cotton bat. The severed end of the oncoming bat drops back against the lint slide 6 for conveyance to the sample box l3. The severed end of the cotton bat remaining on the doffer roller 24 is propelled forward onto the plate 23 for conveyance on chute 25 to the bale press-box 1.

It-is readily apparent from the foregoing description that an average representative sample of a bale of cotton may be obtained during the process of ginning by alternately swinging the continuously rotating doffer roller and its associated parts at predetermined intervals for disengagement and engagement of the dofier roller with the lint slide 6, to cause longitudinal integral portions of the cotton bat desired as component parts of the representative sample to be deposited in one container and the portions of the cot ton bat not desired as part of the representative sample to be deposited in another container.

It is to be understood that this invention may be modified by relocating the point about which the dofier roller and its associated parts pivot with respect to the lint slides, or by using other means to rotate the dofier roller, such modifications being within the scope of one merely skilled in the art.

Having thus described my claim:

1. In combination with a cotton condenser having means to separate cotton issuing therefrom into a plurality of continuous ribbon-like bats; a lint slide to guide one of said ribbons as a sampleable ribbon in a direction different from that of the remaining output of said condenser; means including the lint slide to alternately deliver portions of said sampleable ribbon to receptacles, one being a sample receptacle; and means to selectively separate said ribbon into portions for alternate delivery to said receptacles.

2. In combination with a cotton condenser invention, I

having means to separate cotton issuing there-- from into a plurality of continuous ribbon-like bats; a lint slide to guide one of said ribbons as a sampleable ribbon in a direction different from that of the remaining output of said condenser; a cylinder rotatably supported parallel to and in front of said slide; means for varying the distance between said cylinder and said slide; and an arm depending below and coactable with said cylinder and said slide to transversely rend a portion of cotton bat therebetween.

3. In combination with a cotton condenser having means to separate cotton issuing therefrom into a plurality of continuous ribbon-like bats; a lint slide to guide one of said ribbons as fia mpleable ribbon in a direction difierent from that of the remaining output of said condenser; a cylinder having a friction surface rotatably supported parallel to and in front of said slide; means for varying the distance between said cylinder and said slide; and an arm depending below and coactable with said cylinder and said slide to transversely rend a portion of cotton bat therebetween.

4. In combination with a cotton condenser having means to separate cotton issuing therefrom into a plurality of continuous ribbon-like bats; a lint slide to guide one of said ribbons as a sampleable ribbon in a direction different from that of the remaining output of said condenser; a cylinder rotatably supported parallel to and in front of said slide; resilient, flexible flaps longitudinally secured in spaced relation about the circumference of said cylinder; means for varying the distance between said cylinder and said slide; and an adjustable arm depending below and coactable with said cylinder flaps and said slide to transversely rend a portion of cotton bat therebetween.

5. In combination with a cotton condenser having means to separate cotton issuing therefrom into a plurality of continuous ribbon-like bats; a lint slide to guide one of said ribbons as a sampleable ribbon in a direction different from that of the remaining output of said condenser; a cylinder rotatably supported parallel to and in front of said slide; resilient flexible flaps longitudinally secured in spaced relation about the circumference of said cylinder; means for varying the distance between said cylinder and said slide; and a bar suspended parallel to said cylinder in the path of relative movement between said cylinder and said slide.

6. In combination with a cotton condenser having means to separate cotton issuing therefrom into a plurality of continuous ribbon-like bats; a lint slide to guide one of said ribbons as a sampleable ribbon in a direction different from that of the remaining output of said condenser; a cylinder rotatably supported parallel to and in front of said slide; means for rotating said cylinder; resilient flexible flaps longitudinally secured in spaced relation about the circumference of said cylinder; means for selectively varying the distance between said cylinder and said slide; and an arm depending below said cylinder coactable with said flaps and said slide to transversely rend a portion of cotton bat therebetween.

'7. In combination with a cotton condenser having means to separate cotton issuing therefrom into a plurality of continuous ribbon-like bats; a lint slide to guide one of said ribbons as a sampleable ribbon in a direction different from that of the remaining output of said condenser; a cylinder rotatably supported parallel to and in front of said slide; resilient flexible flaps 1ongitudinally secured in spaced relation about the circumference of said cylinder; means for varying the distance between said cylinder and said slide; and an arm depending below said cylinder having a corrugated resilient end coactable with said flaps and said slide to transversely rend a portion of cotton bat therebetween.

8. In combination with a cotton condenser having means to separate cotton issuing therefrom into a plurality of continuous ribbon-like bats; a lint slide to guide one of said ribbons as a sampleable ribbon in a direction diiferent from that of the remaining output of said condenser; a cylinder rotatably supported parallel to and in front of said slide; resilient flexible flaps longitudinally secured in spaced relation about the circumference of said cylinder; means for varying the distance between said cylinder and said slide; an arm depending below said cylinder coactable with said flaps and said slide to transversely rend a portion of cotton bat therebetween; and a bar suspended parallel to said cylinder in the path of relative movement between said cylinder and said slide.

9. In combination with a cotton condenser having means to separate cotton issuing therefrom into a plurality of continuous ribbon-like bats; a lint slide to guide one of said ribbons as a sampleable ribbon in a direction different from that of the remaining output of said condenser; a cylinder rotatably supported parallel toand in front of said slide; means for rotating said cylinder; resilient flexible flaps longitudinally secured in spaced relation about the circumference of said cylinder; means for manually varying the distance between said cylinder and said slide; a hinged bar suspended parallel to said cylinder in the path of relative movement between said cylinder and said slide; and an adjustable arm depending below said cylinder having a corrugated resilient end coactable with said flaps and said slide to transversely rend a portion of cotton bat therebetween.

GEORGE E. GAUS. 

